RPPs Corruption: SC orders to arrest PM Raja Pervez Ashraf
16 January, 2013
ISLAMABAD: According to the recently reports, Pakistan Supreme court orders to arrest Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and 16 others including the Former Finance Minister Shaukat Tareen, in the Rental Power Project corruption case.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to arrest all the 16 people, including the incumbent prime minister, involved in the rental power plants (RPP) scandal and submit a report on Thursday (tomorrow).
The court said that prima facie the NAB's investigating officers in the case were not being allowed to ensure implementation of the judgement of the court in letter and spirit.
The court has also directed NAB Additional Prosecutor General Rana Zahid Mehmood "to get approved the challans/references against the accused persons and to cause their arrest without any hesitation and submit report on January 17."
Summoning NAB Chairman Fasih Bukhari on Thursday (tomorrow), it observed that he is already under contempt notice for non-compliance of the judgement in the RPPs case and a copy of the same had been delivered to him in March 2012, therefore, he should have been careful. However, under the circumstances, the court said it was issuing a notice to the NAB chairman to explain as to why he has falsely used the name of the Supreme Court to remove two investigating officers, namely Asghar Ali and Kamran Faisal.
The court also made it clear to the NAB chairman that if any of the accused in the case escapes the country, he will be personally responsible for it. The CJP said action would be taken against him. The Supreme Court order came as protesters led by Tahirul Qadri massed near parliament on the third day of a march, calling for the immediate dissolution of the government. A general election is due to be held by mid-May.
But Qadri wants a caretaker government set up immediately, in consultation with the military and the judiciary, to implement key reforms before the polls are held. His demands are seen by critics as a ploy by elements of the establishment to delay the elections and sow political chaos in the country. The Supreme Court order signed by the chief justice, who has been at loggerheads for years with Zardari's government, will heighten an already febrile political atmosphere.
Protests erupt in Sindh after PM Raja Ashraf arrest orders
The city descended into sudden chaos on Tuesday evening as angry PPP workers took to the streets and forced traders to shut down commercial activities, soon after the directives of the Supreme Court (SC) ordering arrest of Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf in rental power corruption cases.
The workers of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) set tyres on fire and blocked several areas, including MA Jinnah Road, University Road, Shahra-e-Faisal, Shahra-e-Quaideen, Gizri, Malir and Mariupur, and staged protest demonstrations against the SC verdict. Incidents of aerial firing were also reported in many areas, including Lyari, Landhi, Bolton Market, Saddar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Malir, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Lines area, Quaidabad, Dalmia, Abul Hasan Isphani Road, Orangi, Pakistan Chowk, Mauripur Road, Clifton and Shah Faisal Colony, Gulshan-e-Hadeed and other areas of the city. Armed men also forced closure of most of the CNG and petrol stations in the city.
Massive traffic jams on almost all main arteries of the metropolis were witnessed due to political tension, as commuters stuck up for over two hours in the long snarl ups and faced immense difficulties to reach at their destinations. The traffic police, however, was nowhere to control the serious traffic mess along the streets. Due to serious gridlocks, ambulances were also stranded. Incidents of snatching of cell phones and other valuables were also reported in traffic jams in some of the areas.
Alike the provincial capital, armed men riding motorcycles also resorted to intense aerial gunfire in many interior Sindh parts, including Larkana, Nawabshah, Sukkur Kahirpur, Dadu, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Jamshoro. They also burnt tyres and blocked the national highway.
Meanwhile, the angry supporters of PPP also held several sit-in demonstrations in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Jacobabad, Nawabshah, Sukkur and other parts of the province. The security around Bilawal House in Karachi was tightened after violence erupted in the city.
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